10^th January.-‘No letter, a miserable day raining, how happy I should have been tonight if Vic had been here but still I am thankful he safe in England I can get to him if I need him I do love you Vic.Writing to Vic, short week on wages, [one pound ten shilling gave mom 17 shilling and 6 pennies)’

11^th January. - ‘Letter of Vic plenty of work washing and ironing. I do miss Vic a quite day on the whole wrote to Vic’.

12^th January. ‘Went to my brother Billy and Doris house. Bill met with accident [midland red bus] quite day on the whole.’

13^th January. ‘3 Letters of Vic, late for work this morning everything been very much the same. Writing to Vic.’

I4th January.-‘Letter of Vic quiet day wrote to Vic. ‘

15^th January. - ‘Letter of Vic answering tonight, its one year to day since Vic was called up. I miss him a lot. I love him just as much. He is the best in the world. I hope darling this time in a year time you will be home for good.’

16^th January. - ‘Vic rang me up leaving Peterborough and going to Shefford’ near Bedford on the A600. ‘I have got an awful headache and a pain in my stomach I feel really run down I do wish Vic was here.’

17^th January. - ‘[full week money two pound two shilling and nine pence]. Letter of Vic writing to Vic I feel no better in fact worse it makes me fed up with life my throat is sore I give the world to see Vic I must try to keep smiling for his sake I love you Vic’ .

18^th January. - ‘No letter. Work till 5pm my pains have been easer in my stomach, it just my head now. A quiet day on the whole snowing badly. It’s at least [3and half feet deep].’

19^th January.. - ‘A quite day wrote to Vic.’

20^th January. - ‘Letter from Vic and wrote back. Very bad weather but feeling much better.’

21^st January.-‘Letter of Vic wrote back, a quite day.’

22^nd January. - ‘Letter of Vic and wrote back. Nothing much happened today only, E. Brookes trying to be funny. Best to take no notice of her’ [don’t know the name].’

23^rd January. - ‘Letter from Vic and wrote back tonight. He doesn’t sound so good I hope he’s ok. I love him so much, O god please look after him I love him. No change at work, quiet.’

24^th January. - ‘Letter of Vic wrote back, I will be glad when he can come home. I have missed him so very much. I love you Vic. A quiet day on the whole at work. [Picked up two pound 8 shilling and 11 pence].’

25^th January. –‘ 2am this morning I had the most wonderful surprise Vic home on 48hour leave. I feel so very happy it has snowed and rained but I don’t care we have each other. Went to the pictures and went home for some soup. Then to our home, a lovely evening then 5minutes left of love [no work today].

26^th January. - ‘Got up 9.30 had a lovely morning dinner in Florence’s- Vic sisters. Went up home saw mom and my brother Thomas. It been a grand 48hours but I hate parting with you darling. You have given me a lovely time I love you Vic.’

27^th January. - ‘A miserable day, everything gone wrong. Wrote to Vic.’

28^th January.-‘Letter of Vic wrote back a quiet day.’

29^thJanuary. - ‘Heard news of new job, Miss Brookes leaving to take over full control of repair dept’ [I believe this woman must of been a dept head in Hercules factory where mom worked] wrote to Vic.’

30^th January. - ‘Miss Brooke left for Bovey Tracey’. I believe this to be in Devon on the A38 ‘to get married then to take control of the repair dept wrote to Vic.’

31^st January. - ‘ Heard today that Vics had his first stripe, lance corporal, a non-commissioned officer Cobden R.T .O. Quainton road Bucks.’

February 1^{st. -} ‘Rise in my wages, 50 shillings now, 3pound per week. One pound in bank.

2^nd February. - ‘Mr Churchill to give back all tax taken of soldiers wives.’

3^rd February.-‘Very busy at work wrote to Vic.’

4^th February. - ‘Warning sounded wrote to Vic’.

5^th February. -‘Vic home for 24 hours leave. No work today, so glad he was here stayed at 341, Mom worried.’

6^th February. - ‘6 Pound tax money back we have spent the lot, had a lovely time was able to let Vic have one pound in his pocket.’

7^th February. - ‘Vic gone back, it’s so lonely no one to talk to. D Cook to get married’ I don’t know the name.

8^th February. ‘Took day off to go to Quainton Road to surprise Vic. Given lift most of way by one of the drivers to save money.’

9^th February. - ‘Bombs to night very clear and bright’

10^th February.-‘Heard from my brother Joe, lost is stripes gone to Gibraltar with the regular he pleased.

11^th February.-‘Bombs on many factories in Aston, hit many homes the war is near home. Wrote to Vic.’

12^th February. ‘Vic thinks he will go overseas, hope he gets leave first. Aston area bombed people killed and hurt.’

Pictures taken 5^th April 1941 when excitement was growing as Wedding now not far away!!!

 

9TH April, 200 Bombs dropped in and around Birmingham

 

NO MORE IN DIARY FOR SOME REASON UNTIL EARLY MAY 1941 PERHAPS NO TIME I DONT KNOW

5^th May. - ‘Must go to the registers.’

10^th May. Get wedding dress and bridesmaids dress.’

15^th May.-‘Bombs hit Elkington Street Park, our home badly damaged. Wedding dress and bridesmaids dress rescued. A policeman killed. Only one room unsafe.’

16^th May. -‘Trying to clean up after raid to make things better for our wedding day. My brothers Terry and John came to help.’

17^th May.-‘Getting ready to leave 341, Mom Terry and John moving to 6 Kingston roads. Small heath. I wonder if we will be ready. Small reception at 124 Bracebridge Street.’

18^th May. -‘Bands read out in church first reading.’

19^th May.-‘Vic’s sister Florence staying with Auntie Ada till 124 made safe to live in. We get it ready for our wedding. Its hard work being at work as well, wish Vic was here still think he will go aboard.

20^th May.-‘Another raid, 10 hours long did not sleep at all. Must go to work.’

21^stMay.-‘341 Damaged by blast. Mom will be pleased to leave here. My brothers Terry and John evacuated to Worcester away from bombs.’

22^nd May.-‘A nice lady John and Terry are with but would rather be home. Worcester flooded rivers overflowing.’

23^rd May.-‘More raids, every night now. Heard from Vic. Will try to get home.

24^th May.-‘Got home from work to find Vic here for a few hours, a lovely surprise so happy for a while.’

25^th May.-‘ Vic going to ask Mrs Mackham the lady he is billeted with if I can go to stay for a while when we are married.’

31^st May.-‘Mom leaving 341 after our wedding. Terry stopping to lock up and going to 124 to wait for us every think ready now.’

1^{st. -} June. ‘Bands read 3rd Time. All well now, next Saturday our day.’

6^th June..-‘Vic home on 7 days leave going to India after our wedding. Cake collected from Wimbush. 3 tier chocolate cake no icing short of rations.’

My father wrote in my mom diary on this day - 7^th June ‘It will be on this day I swear before my god I will make you my wife. This is the one thing I want more than anything in the world. Today is the day I have been waiting for and it here it is and it will soon be all over, the most important day in my life. Our Wedding Day. Victor Cobden

8^TH. June. - ‘Went to Blackpool for 3Days.

9^th June. . Vic returned to Quainton Road’ (I now understand that Quainton Road barracks is located in Buckinghamshire off the M40 and A41) ‘bombers still making raids all round. Back at work, must start saving again. Vic recalled back do so miss him we are married now.

10^th June.-‘Allowance from the army. 7 shillings and six pence each week collected from new town row post office.’

11^th June..-‘Vic moving to Northampton’ 7 North Street better than going to India will be able to go to him whenever I can.’ (I now understand that North Street is located off the A45 of the M6 Northampton).

12^th June.-‘Letter from Vic, heavy raids again.

13^th June.-‘Coventry hit badly many people killed. Hercules damaged still able to go to work.’

14^th June.-‘Mom loves Kingston Road. Terry and John are coming home to stay.

16^th June.-‘Letter from Vic, came of his motor bike leg’s and hands and face hurt coming home on sick leave.

18^th June.-‘Trying to get some repairs done in 124. Can’t use upstairs making the front room a bed room must not leave the house empty. Terry and John taking it in turns to stay with me.

MORE IN THE DIARY APART FROM WHEN DAD GAVE MOM THIS DIARY AT THE END OF 1940 A MESSAGE IN IT ‘TO KATH WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR IS THE LOVING WISH OF YOUR EVER LOVING SWEETHEART'. VIC

Not in diary but there are some items which I have discovered that were happening in the early part of 1941 from the Birmingham Mail archives department at Birmingham public library. More research to be done.

The cost of the mail news paper was one old penny. Europe freezing. 86 degree of frost in Sweden. No beer rationing at this time. From start of war 50’000 air raids up to the end of November 1940; 19261 people killed. Public notice of Midland red vacancies, urgent for woman prevention of Diphtheria is strongly advised to have children protected.

7^TH January 1941 no air raids over England last night. Bad weather, special bargains in Lewis 5 Shillings seconds shoes. Plus Knickers, lots more about what to do about filling in ration books to leave in shops if you don’t want them at home in case your home gets bombed. So much work it’s untrue not like today, black out times 5.35 pm to 8.45 am. Moon rises 11.21 am set 10 .39 pm. Tomorrow the same radio programs BBC home service 3.00 PM after noon finish with Billy Cotton band show at 11.30 PM films showing at this time Royalty Harborne Spencer. Tracy plus Rita Johnson called Edison. The Man [u] the 35/- Tailor plus suits plus overcoats plus raincoats plus flannels or sport jackets .83 High Street Beehive shop in Albert Street on 3 RD January meat ration will reduce from 1/10pence to 1/6pence. service men on leave will have smaller rations sausages not ration at this time .Taxation licences etc Dog7/6pence firearms10/- game3pound horse drawn carriages 2 or 3 wheels15/- motor driver licence 5/- motor cycles 17/6 pence. The money used at this time ,4 farthing one penny, 12 pence, one shilling, 20 shillings, one pound, telegraph rates [inland] nine pence for first nine words.

FROM THE BIRNINGHAM MAIL ON THE 6^TH AND 7^TH JUNE 1941 IT READS.Cobden and Rabone forthcoming marriage on the 7^THJune 1941 at Saint Chad’s cathedral bath street at 2.30 pm all friend’s welcome at the church. Film showing this day in Aston at the orient picture house was Arizona [u] trailer with Jean Arthur and William Holden.

 

Also other items of interest in the news that week

 

Eggs were going on Ration by 14th June

Shop Keeper hoarding Cigarette Tobacco

R.A.F. Bombs Berlin again, Germans in fear of raids on a clear night heavy damage.

A brave constable saved a trapped woman during raid.

Holding Suez Canal Britain has every confidence of holding it.

The other side of the world typhoon hits Japan 4,000 homes flooded.

Many jobs for young and old, one that stands out at Lewis Ltd. A gentleman hairdresser £4 a week.

A new house in Weoley Castle, 3 bedrooms £700.

For many more stories can be found at the Birmingham Library; all on the 6TH Floor in the film Library

Transcribed from original Diary by Trevor Cobden

Additional Pictures and comments inserted by Vic Cobden

July 2009